when i was younger and lived with my family in hertfordshire i was surprised to find a small village called letchmore heath not so far away. it was accessible by driving along some quintessential english country roads, a lovely sleepy little hamlet which also happened to be home of the hare krsna movement. in fact george harrison had bought them a massive mansion which was open to the public every sunday morning for a free meal and as a passionate vegetarian i was often visiting. 
over the years i met a few local people whom i befriended only to find out they were hare krsna's and at the same time either ex cons or on the run. i thus built up this idea in my head that the whole movement was a front for criminals to move around the globe undetected, however this was shadowed by the teachings of krsna which i always found myself drawn to. i mean it's such a cosmic belief system, it's kinda psychedelic and i loved the fact wherever i travelled in the world i would always bump into the krsna's dancing, singing and chanting. i liked that mantra, i loved the food and the girls were sexy. what else can you ask from a religious / spiritual system. 
over the years i investigated the whole hindu philosophy and found everything so rich and fascinating but i kinda always dug the krsna movement as they seemed happy and free. plus i always ate in their restaurants no matter what city i was in. 
even my weed smoking driving instructor turned out to be a hare krsna and he eventually explained the movement was a good place to travel through if you were on the run. i always thought i would keep that in mind if ever i got in trouble with the law.
now reading a fantastic book called 'purushamedha' by rudra das goswami i discover this,

'the vaisnava path saints, lovers, criminals and heretics, krsna embraces all equally. the greatest devotees of krsna include the terrible demons such as vitra, ravana, bali maharaj and mayasura. durga and kali are his handmaidens and the harlot fortune herself his beloved mistress. taking lord krsna as our spiritual master and beloved, we follow his supreme example above all others. krsna defies all cultural norms, all taboos, he kills, he wishes, he enjoys sex, as he wishes, he plays and sports as he wishes, and he teaches us, his friends and disciples to do the same. through his incredible mercy, the most terrible sins and taboos become transformed into acts of pious devotion. 
to make progress one does not need to fast or pray or observe vigils or worship at temples. one needs to love krsna madly, passionately and to enjoy this world as part of his pastimes. everything we do creates karma, unless we do it for krsn, in which case there is only liberation.
so if we eat meat it is bad karma, but if we offer it to krsna it is devotion....'

'